July/August 2001

The AGM took place in April. Despite the poor turn-out we had a pleasant evening with a report of the year, questions and answers, and refreshments. By managing Ashdown Estate ourselves we are saving a huge amount on monthly maintenance fees. A professional management company would charge a great deal, so we are a little disappointed when there seems to be little effort to even attend the AGM…. or maybe everyone is delighted with the management!

Debra	David	Jo
Tom	Caroline

The current committee has gotten into its stride, continues to work hard and has more projects in the pipeline. We are a cheerful bunch (or try to be!) and now have a vacant place on the committee. See one of the committee if you are interested in offering a little of your time.

The issue of us collectively purchasing the freehold was raised at the AGM and this is something we will look into and will report back to you.

Attached to this newsletter is an Estate Survey. The purpose is to find out a bit more about the needs of the residents living here and to share some of that information if you so wish.

We hope you enjoy this latest newsletter and finding out what's happening on the estate.

Gardens: Trevor Buildings: Caroline Newsletter: Caroline/All

Window cleaning: David Service charges/ standing orders: David

Noise Awareness Noise travels - whatever noise you can hear from your neighbours they can hear the same from you! Upstairs flats should also consider that their floor is someone's ceiling. We have very thin walls so please keep your music, TV, loud voices and other noisy activities down low after 11pm. Washing machines should not be used after 11pm or before 9am. Car Parking We know many families have two cars now and it's very difficult to park at times. If you don't use your car then please consider parking it in your garage. We have had a few car break-ins of late and don't want Ashdown Drive to become a dumping ground. Try using your garages. Residents should know that we have had a complaint from a neighbouring estate whose multi-coloured garages are opposite numbers 48-56 Ashdown Drive. The gravel drive-way to these properties is the private property of the Anthony Road Garage Owners, and should therefore NOT be used by us at any time, either to turn our cars round, or to leave them parked there during the day or night. Ball Games The committee appreciate that most of the children have now stopped playing with hard balls on the estate. Sometimes one or two of the children 'forget' and need to be reminded. Please don't leave it to just committee members to politely tell the kids as they see this as a sign that no-one is bothered about them playing with a hard ball!

Estate Cleaners We do NOT have any! Cigarette butts, crisps and sweet wrappers on the estate looks unsightly and we are still getting foxes and rats. So please put the rubbish into a bin and keep your bin area and space outside your home tidy and clean. (See advert below!) Buildings Update Bill (our builder) has been able to progress well this year with the maintenance works on numbers 37 to 66 Ashdown Estate and the grounds. If extra works are still needed to your porch area, and this has not yet been sorted, then please make the effort to contact Caroline to save her having to run around trying to contact you. Next year, the major works of replacing boards and guttering (top of the buildings) should commence. You will be pleased to know that there should not be any extra cost for this work. Welcome to new residents We are still in the process of producing a standard welcome letter to all new leaseholders and residents living on the estate and should have this ready soon. When it is done we will send it out to everyone initially and then to new people as they move in. This letter will cover all the usual information about rubbish collections, paying the service charges, washing lines, etc. and anything else to make living on Ashdown Estate a more pleasurable experience from the start. Advert Feature The real, mean, cleaning machines Are you sick of looking at the dust by your porch? Are you fed-up with watering and weeding your plants? Then fret no longer because the "cavalry's arrived" with brooms and dustpans, watering cans and gardening gloves. At low-rates we will do those tedious chores that just get-on-your-nerves. Call: Yonni or Thomas We do: car washing; porch sweeping and cleaning; bin area sweeping and cleansing; plant watering/weeding; etc etc etc. Caroline said, "I was very happy with their work and they did a super job on my bin area. I am delighted that the older kids on this estate have turned their hands to bob-a-jobbing. As well as doing a good job, they were very polite and helpful that I'll be hiring them on a regular basis. I'd be happy to recommend them and wish them every success."